Global private equity assets under management reached 4.5 trillion dollars. Dry powder stood at 2.56 trillion dollars while 12,500 firms competed for allocations. The statistics detail fundraising totals, investment flows, exit volumes, and performance benchmarks by region and strategy.
Key Takeaways
- Global PE AUM grew to $4.5 trillion by end-2022.
- Global PE exits value was $612 billion in 2022 across 2,450 deals.
- Global private equity fundraising reached a record $1.21 trillion in 2022 across 3,365 funds.
- Global PE dry powder stood at $2.56 trillion at end-2022.
- Global PE gross IRR averaged 15.2% for vintages 2018-2022.
Global private equity continues to drive major deal activity and strong returns worldwide.
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01 · Category
AUM and Market Trends23 stats
01
Global PE AUM grew to $4.5 trillion by end-2022.
02
Dry powder as % of AUM reached 57% globally in 2022.
03
Number of active PE firms worldwide was 12,500 at end-2022.
04
Buyout AUM represented 60% of total PE AUM at $2.7 trillion in 2022.
05
North America held 58% of global PE AUM, $2.61 trillion in 2022.
06
Europe PE AUM stood at $1.35 trillion by end-2022.
07
Asia-Pacific PE AUM grew 12% to $650 billion in 2022.
08
LP commitments to PE reached $1.4 trillion over last 5 years to 2022.
09
Concentration: top 20 GPs managed 45% of global PE AUM in 2022.
10
VC AUM within PE was $1.2 trillion at end-2022.
11
Infrastructure PE AUM hit $1.1 trillion globally in 2022.
12
Average PE firm AUM was $360 million in 2022.
13
Dry powder growth rate was 10% YoY to $2.56 trillion in 2022.
14
US PE AUM dominated at 55% share, $2.48 trillion.
15
Secondaries AUM reached $450 billion by end-2022.
16
Emerging markets PE AUM was 15% of global at $675 billion in 2022.
17
GP stakes market AUM grew to $35 billion in 2022.
18
Continuation funds AUM surged to $80 billion by 2022.
19
Technology allocation in PE portfolios averaged 25% in 2022.
20
Healthcare PE AUM was $850 billion at end-2022.
21
Fundraising-to-AUM ratio was 27% for PE in 2022.
22
Number of PE funds in fundraising pipeline: 18,000 in 2022.
23
Sovereign wealth funds held 15% of global PE AUM in 2022.
Interpretation
AUM and Market Trends Interpretation
The private equity world is now a $4.5 trillion behemoth, staggering under the weight of its own $2.56 trillion in unspent cash while an army of 12,500 firms fights over a pie that is shockingly concentrated in the hands of a few, proving that even in a world awash with capital, the real power is still held by a remarkably small club.
02 · Category
Exits25 stats
01
Global PE exits value was $612 billion in 2022 across 2,450 deals.
02
Trade sales accounted for 52% of PE exits in 2022, valued at $318 billion.
03
North America exit value reached $290 billion in 2022, 47% of global.
04
Europe PE exits totaled $190 billion in 2022, down 35% YoY.
05
IPO exits for PE generated $85 billion in 2022, only 14% of total value.
06
Secondary buyouts comprised 38% of exit value at $233 billion in 2022.
07
Asia-Pacific exits reached $85 billion in 2022, led by India at $20 billion.
08
Average exit multiple for PE deals was 2.6x invested capital in 2022.
09
US exits numbered 1,100 deals worth $290 billion in 2022.
10
UK PE exit value was $40 billion in 2022, trade sales dominant.
11
Healthcare exits generated $75 billion in 2022 for PE firms.
12
Technology sector exits totaled $110 billion in 2022 globally.
13
Sponsor-to-sponsor deals hit 950 in 2022, $233 billion value.
14
China PE exits dropped to $15 billion in 2022 due to market conditions.
15
Consumer exits for PE were $65 billion in 2022.
16
Infrastructure exits reached $45 billion in 2022 across 180 deals.
17
Median holding period for exited PE deals was 4.8 years in 2022.
18
Financial services exits valued $50 billion in 2022 for PE.
19
Latin America PE exits totaled $8 billion in 2022.
20
Industrial sector exits generated $70 billion in 2022.
21
Number of PE exits globally fell to 2,450 in 2022 from 3,200 in 2021.
22
Middle East exits for PE were $12 billion in 2022.
23
Business services exits hit $55 billion in 2022.
24
India PE exits reached $22 billion in 2022, up 20% YoY.
25
Energy exits for PE totaled $30 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
Exits Interpretation
The private equity world proved in 2022 that it's still a masterclass in turning investments into cash, just with fewer graduates, a distinct North American valedictorian, and a curriculum favoring trade sales and passing the asset to the classmate next to you over the grand ceremony of an IPO.
03 · Category
Fundraising30 stats
01
Global private equity fundraising reached a record $1.21 trillion in 2022 across 3,365 funds.
02
Buyout funds accounted for 64% of total private equity fundraising in 2022, raising $772 billion.
03
North America dominated PE fundraising with $510 billion raised in 2022, representing 42% of global totals.
04
Europe saw PE fundraising of $294 billion in 2022, down 22% from the previous year.
05
Asia-Pacific fundraising for PE hit $156 billion in 2022, with growth funds leading at 35% share.
06
Mega-funds over $5 billion raised $510 billion in 2022, comprising 42% of all PE capital.
07
Average time to final close for PE funds lengthened to 25 months in 2022 from 20 months in 2021.
08
First-time PE funds raised $32 billion in 2022, representing 2.6% of total fundraising.
09
Sovereign wealth funds committed $85 billion to PE in 2022, up 15% year-over-year.
10
Pension funds allocated $120 billion to PE fundraising globally in 2022.
11
US-based GPs raised 55% of global PE capital in 2022, totaling $666 billion.
12
Secondaries fundraising surged to $75 billion in 2022, a 45% increase from 2021.
13
Venture capital subset of PE raised $285 billion in 2022, down 35% from 2021 peak.
14
Infrastructure PE funds raised $112 billion in 2022, up 20% from prior year.
15
Number of PE funds closed in 2022 was 3,365, compared to 3,800 in 2021.
16
Average PE fund size grew to $360 million in 2022 from $310 million in 2021.
17
China PE fundraising dropped to $45 billion in 2022, down 40% amid regulatory pressures.
18
UK fundraising for PE reached $65 billion in 2022, leading Europe.
19
Insurance companies committed $50 billion to PE funds in 2022 globally.
20
Growth equity funds raised $210 billion in 2022, 17% of total PE fundraising.
21
Latin America PE fundraising was $12 billion in 2022, up 10% YoY.
22
Middle East & Africa contributed $18 billion to global PE fundraising in 2022.
23
Number of PE funds in market fell to 15,000 by end-2022 from 16,500 in 2021.
24
Family offices invested $25 billion in PE fundraising in 2022.
25
Distressed debt funds raised $35 billion in 2022 amid market volatility.
26
Canada-based fundraising for PE was $28 billion in 2022.
27
Australia & New Zealand PE fundraising totaled $15 billion in 2022.
28
Endowment funds committed $40 billion to PE in 2022 globally.
29
Sector-focused PE funds (e.g., healthcare) raised $180 billion in 2022.
30
Global PE fundraising distributions averaged 1.8x multiples in 2022.
Interpretation
Fundraising Interpretation
Despite shattering its own record with a staggering $1.21 trillion haul, the global private equity industry in 2022 resembled a cautious giant, concentrating its immense power into fewer, larger North American buyout funds while newer managers and venture bets found it a much tougher, slower climb.
More related reading
04 · Category
Investments28 stats
01
Global PE dry powder stood at $2.56 trillion at end-2022.
02
PE investment value reached $892 billion in 2022 across 14,198 deals.
03
Buyout investments dominated with $617 billion deployed in 2022, 69% of total.
04
North America saw $380 billion in PE investments in 2022, 43% of global activity.
05
Europe PE investments totaled $260 billion in 2022, down 25% from 2021.
06
Asia-Pacific PE deal value was $160 billion in 2022, with India leading at $45 billion.
07
Average PE deal size increased to $64 million in 2022 from $58 million in 2021.
08
Venture investments within PE hit $230 billion in 2022 across 25,000 deals.
09
Growth equity deployments reached $195 billion in 2022, up 5% YoY.
10
Healthcare sector received $145 billion in PE investments in 2022, 16% of total.
11
Technology sector PE investments were $210 billion in 2022 globally.
12
Infrastructure investments by PE totaled $98 billion in 2022 across 450 deals.
13
Add-on deals accounted for 58% of buyout transactions in 2022, totaling 8,200 deals.
14
US PE investments numbered 6,500 deals worth $380 billion in 2022.
15
UK received $55 billion in PE investments in 2022, focusing on consumer sectors.
16
China PE investments fell to $38 billion in 2022, down 50% YoY.
17
Financial services sector attracted $85 billion in PE capital in 2022.
18
Mega-deals over $1 billion numbered 210 in 2022, totaling $320 billion.
19
Latin America PE investments reached $14 billion in 2022, led by Brazil.
20
Consumer & retail PE deals value was $110 billion in 2022.
21
Industrial sector received $120 billion from PE investors in 2022.
22
Secondaries transactions hit $105 billion in 2022, up 30% YoY.
23
Middle East PE investments totaled $20 billion in 2022, infrastructure heavy.
24
Energy sector PE deployments were $45 billion in 2022 amid transition focus.
25
Number of PE deals globally was 14,198 in 2022, down 20% from 2021.
26
Co-investment activity in PE reached $70 billion in 2022.
27
Business services sector got $95 billion in PE investments 2022.
28
India PE investments surged to $48 billion in 2022, tech-driven.
Interpretation
Investments Interpretation
Despite sitting on a record-breaking $2.56 trillion war chest, private equity barons in 2022 channeled their cautious aggression into fewer but bolder mega-deals, fortifying existing empires with add-ons, chasing digital and health bets from Silicon Valley to Bangalore, while giving a wide berth to a skittish Europe and a retreating China.
05 · Category
Performance25 stats
01
Global PE gross IRR averaged 15.2% for vintages 2018-2022.
02
Top-quartile PE funds delivered 22.1% net IRR through 2022.
03
Median DPI for mature PE funds was 1.75x as of end-2022.
04
Buyout funds averaged 2.1x TVPI for 2017 vintage by 2022.
05
VC funds net IRR was 18.5% for top quartile in 2022 data.
06
North America PE funds outperformed with 16.8% average IRR.
07
Europe PE median multiple was 1.9x MOIC through 2022.
08
Growth equity IRR averaged 20.3% for recent vintages in 2022.
09
Infrastructure PE funds TVPI hit 1.6x median by end-2022.
10
PE outperformance vs public markets was 450 bps annualized to 2022.
11
Secondaries funds delivered 14.2% IRR net in 2022 benchmarks.
12
Asia PE funds averaged 13.5% IRR, lagging developed markets.
13
J-curve depth for PE funds averaged -5% in year 1, recovering by year 4.
14
Top 10% PE managers achieved 28%+ IRR through 2022.
15
Healthcare PE subsector IRR was 17.8% median in 2022.
16
Technology PE TVPI averaged 2.4x for exited funds by 2022.
17
Dispersion in PE returns: top quartile 22% vs bottom 8% IRR.
18
Mature buyout funds DPI reached 1.85x globally in 2022.
19
Public to private PE deals yielded 25% average IRR since inception.
20
RVPI for unrealized PE portfolios averaged 1.45x in 2022.
21
US small-cap PE outperformed large-cap by 300 bps to 2022.
22
Distressed PE strategies returned 16.1% IRR in 2022 cycle.
23
Fee compression reduced management fees to 1.6% average in 2022.
24
Carried interest realization rate was 12% for mature funds in 2022.
25
Europe mid-market PE IRR hit 18.2% for 2019 vintage by 2022.
Interpretation
Performance Interpretation
Despite the industry's notorious J-curve, where managers pocket fees before returns even turn positive, the data insists that top-tier private equity funds have consistently delivered stellar, market-beating profits, provided you avoid the vast majority of underperformers lurking in the bottom quartile.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Global Private Equity Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-private-equity-industry-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Global Private Equity Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-private-equity-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Global Private Equity Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-private-equity-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
3 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level